That is kind of a heavy title for a blog post. For years I have always wondered what that phrase meant, always heard it being screamed at me from pulpits, from friends, and from TV preachers. I never really understood it though. I think that too many times we are told to love, and then that is what we do because that is what we are told to do. Then when asked why we love, we tell people, "Well, that is what Jesus does, so we should do it to." That is an alright response I guess, but kind of empty. Using that same philosophy, would we be willing to be crucified? Don't be quick to answer that question. Really think about it. Would you be willing to be stripped naked, beaten, and then tortured for 6 hours only to die of suffocation or bleeding out for people who you knew were going to mock you, spit on you, cry out to you, and then do it all over again. I will be honest and say to take a bullet for someone, I can do. That is generally a quick and easy process in which there will probably not be much pain involved. My end result is guaranteed, and I don't have to worry about the end state of what happens. But to go through all of that torture, just get to be mocked and ridiculed for no apparent reason, but only because I sincerely love you, is hard to say yes to. I would do it for my wife, my friends, my family, but my enemies?? That is cause for thought.
I read this post about a church helping another church because it could. It moved me. I grew up hearing jokes about other denominations, about their short comings, about their faults, never once hearing that those people love the same Jesus that I do, and the same Jesus that died for me died for them. Then the same pastor would tell me to love all people. That is backwards. That is not being the church on purpose.
So for me to figure what this meant, I attacked it the same away I attack all problems. I took it one step at a time.
First off all, what does "Being the church" mean. To me, (and you may have your own views which I am more than open to) it means doing exactly what Jesus would have done, and asking for forgiveness when I don't. This is a short coming in my life. I can usually fulfill one or the other, but both is difficult for me to accomplish. It means that regardless if I get anything out of the situation in anyway, I need to follow through with love, kindness, and gentleness to further the Great Commission. It means I need to fight, with my all my strength, for the ideals of God in the most loving way that I can. It means to be who God wants me to be entirely, not who God wants me to be with a mix of my suggestions. That can be painful and lonely at times. That will mean going down the road less traveled, but it is the one Jesus paved (stole that from a song). It is a challenge that we turn away from because we are scared, weak, and unaware. But that is where God's glory really shines. In our weaknesses, He uses us to accomplish great and powerful things.
Now the easier one to figure out...purpose. Purpose is defined as "something set up as an object or end to be attained" according the dictionary. So purpose is achieving a goal because you set out to do just that. You seek out opportunities to find a job, marry your spouse, find a place to live, or any of those other creature comforts. How often do we search out hurting, needing, desperate people who are searching out answers when we have them, because we are able to. And don't tell me, that as a person who has accepted Christ, gone through and going through challenges, that you don't have any answers, because I will lovingly tell you that you are wrong. You do, you just have to embrace them...they can be found in God's Word. They may not be simple, or in the step-by-step process that you sooo desire, but they are there.
So, to be the church on purpose is to knowingly seek out the weak, the mourning, the poor, the lonely, the widows, the orphans, and all the other people we secretly avoid, and invite them into a world of hard work and abundant love.
Every Wednesday in Youth, Pastor Eric does a "found on YouTube" sequence. This video was the pick for the week. Hilarious!! Enjoy.
This is one of my favorite videos. It makes me laugh so hard EVERY time! Emily Benson found it, and shared it with Eric, so now I am sharing it with you.
In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said: "Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah "Noah!," He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! "Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed." "I needed a building permit." "I've been arguing with the inspector "My neighbors claim that I've violated the "Then the Department of Transportation demanded a "Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban "I tried to convince the environmentalists that I "When I started gathering the animals, an animal "Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark "I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the "Immigration and Naturalization are checking the "The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They "To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, "So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10
"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over
-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me."
along with a few good humans."
"You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will
start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."
weeping in his yard - but no Ark.
Where is the Ark?"
about the need for a sprinkler system."
neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my
yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to
go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision."
bond be posted for the future costs of moving power
lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the
passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them
that the sea would be coming to us, but they would
hear nothing of it."
on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl."
needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!"
rights group sued me. They insisted that I was
confining wild animals against their will. They
argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and
it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in
a confined space."
until they'd conducted an environmental impact study
on your proposed flood."
Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm
supposed to hire for my building crew."
green-card status of most of the people who want to work."
insist I have to hire only Union workers with
Ark-building experience."
claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally
with endangered species."
years for me to finish this Ark."Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine,
Noah looked up in wonder and asked,
"You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord.
"The GOVERNMENT beat me to it."
